Yum Brands calls in PwC to sell off its Pizza Huts in the UK

The restaurants giant Yum Brands has appointed an accountancy firm to sell its Pizza Hut UK business.

The owner of the KFC and Taco Bell chains has hired PwC to run the auction of the pizzas chain, which has 380 restaurants and 320 delivery outlets in the UK.

A Yum spokesman said consistent with its strategy of focusing on high-growth markets, such as India, China and Africa, it has decided to "refranchise its entire Pizza Hut UK business and is seeking a single buyer to purchase its company-owned restaurants and to serve as a master franchisee for the market".

This comes five years after Yum paid £112m for the 50 per cent stake held by Whitbread. PwC declined to comment.